can a letter get lost in the mail? and if there is a check in it made out to a company, can anyone cash it?

Answer 1

Yes, letters can and do get lost in the mail.

Also, unfortunately, if a check is in such a letter and it winds up in the wrong hands, it is possible for a person to cash it if they have a very good fake ID and signature.

However, if the check was made out to a business, it would be pretty difficult to do, and usually banks are pretty thorough when it comes to cashing checks, the person cashing it either has to hold a bank account with that bank with enough money in it to cover the check, or the check has to be brought to the bank in which it is being written from, which establishes a "paper trail" in either case and discourages people from doing such things.

If you're concerned about something like this, try not to worry about it too much - it's unlikely that someone intercepted a check you sent and then were able to cash it for themselves. If the check was cashed or deposited, you should receive the cancelled check soon, and your bank will have information on it - they might be worth a call if you're wondering what was/is going on with a check you wrote...

Also, if you think the check was simply lost, you can also call and order a "stop payment" on that check, in which case they bank will not allow the check to be cashed, and you can issue a payment for whatever it might be in another fashion - or simply send another check.

I know it's a long answer, but if you didn't know this stuff already, I hope it helped!

Answer 2

Mail gets lost all the time. The post office does its best, but there are often circumstances beyond their control. For example, a tornado picks up and destroys the mail drop box, truck or rips the roof off a post office. Floods and fire can also cause a letter or package to be "lost."

If you put the wrong mailing address on the envelope, even as much as a wrong zip code, a letter could be seriously delayed or even sent to a "dead letter" office. If you did not put your return address on the upper left corner, the post office has no way of getting it back to you, either.

As to the check, according to current law, a check made payable to a business can only be deposited into an account owned by a company with the same name. It cannot be cashed, and if it is cashed, the bank can be held liable for the loss.

Unfortunately, there is nothing stopping someone from creating a business account with any name they want on it, (including the name on the check that went missing). The fraudster could then deposit your lost or stolen check, then withdraw the money later.

Currently "local" checks are available for withdrawal within two or three business days, and a "non-local" or out of state check cannot take longer than five buisness days to be made available for withdrawal. Often, it takes longer than this for you to get a copy of the cashed or deposited check from your bank, so you can get a look at the stamped or handwritten endorsement on the back.


Your best bet would be to check with your bank to see if it has been cashed or deposited yet. If not, you may want to put a stop payment on the check. Some banks do charge a high fee for this, $25-35 dollars per stop payment is average. Some banks are lower than this, so please check with your bank first. If this was a big check, like for a mortgage or car payment, it might be worth it.

If you used a money order that you bought at the bank or post office, your receipt should have a toll-free phone number on it hidden somewhere in that tiny, tiny fine print. Call that, and a stop payment can be put on a money order as well.

If the check is deposited by a company with the same name as the company you made the check payable to, get a copy of the front and back of it from your bank, and send it in a letter to the company as proof of your payment. Most companies will credit the payment to your account, and reverse any late fees. If it was taken by a fraud artist, a major company (like the phone company or electric company) may choose to hunt the the fraud business down, instead of making you do it.

Many banks these days offer a way to pay bills online. Even the smaller banks will offer this, and send a check to the company or person you want to pay, instead of doing it electronically. If you do this, and the payment gets lost, it is your bank's fault, not yours, and then they have to pay any late fees or penalties that you might get charged. It might be worth looking into.

Good luck! I hope the payment shows up.

Answer 3

Yes, things get lost in the mail all the time.

Where I work it happens at least once per week (both for incomming and outgoing mail)

Depending on how long it has been, and who the company is, you may want to give it a few days (a few days for shipping and a few days for the check to post to your account)

Not "just anyone" can cash your check, but you shouldn't have unvoided checks floating around, they can be cashed up to a year after issue of it's not stated otherwise on the check.

Cancell payment on the check, call the company you wrote it to and tell them NOT to cash it if they get it and tell them what check number you are sending in its place.

Answer 4

Yes a letter can get lost in the mail. A check made out to a business can not be cashed only deposited to an account with that business name on it. If somehow it does get cashed, you need to place a claim with the bank to be reimbursed. You should put a stop payment on the check.

Answer 5

Yes, mail gets lost in the mail all the time. If someone finds your check made out to a company, they should not be able to cash it, but it really depends how stupid or tired the teller was at the time the check was presented. But don't worry, if the person who was the payee did not endorse the check, you can usually get your money back with a fraud claim through your bank.

Answer 6

letters get lost all the time. Difficult I would think to cash a company check. Better make a stop payment of the check if this was your case.

Answer 7

Of course letters can get lost in the mail. And, they can also become misplaced at the company to whom it was mailed. The best thing is to contact the company and ask if the letter was received. If not, go to the post office and have a tracer placed on the letter.

Answer 8

YES, YOU CAN GET ANY CHECK CASH, BARS CASH PAYROLL CHECK AND OTHER COMPANIES WILL CASH CHECKS FOR A FEE. IF THE CHECK IS LOST DO A STOP PAYMENT ON IT.

Answer 9

It would have to be deposited in an account with that company's name. Joe Blow with Joe Blow's ID ain't a company, and the teller would know. I guess if your name was Taco Bell, you might get away with it.

Answer 10

Someone giving you the old "check is in the mail" routine?